Change is unlikely - Neville
GARY Neville does not expect Steve Bruce to be sacked any time soon despite the side’s poor run of form.
The Magpies are without a win in six Premier League games and are now in an intense relegation battle.
Bruce’s men suffered a disastrous 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, which leaves them two points above Fulham in 18th.
The Cottagers lost to Leeds United on Friday evening, meaning the table stays the same in terms of 17th and 18th, but the 16th-place Seagulls are now four points above Newcastle.
Bruce has come under increasing pressure with the Magpies now in a fight to survive, but owner Mike Ashley is set to stick with the Geordie manager.
Newcastle are now without a game for just under two weeks, with Tottenham set to visit St. James’ Park on Sunday, April 4.
The two-week international break is the perfect opportunity for Ashley to get rid of Bruce and appoint someone else, according to Neville, but the ex-Manchester United man is adamant that won’t be what happens.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he said: “I’m not surprised, I think that Mike Ashley is likely to do that (stick with Bruce) at this moment in time and not panic.
“I think he expects to be down there, not right at the bottom and not fighting for relegation, but I don’t think he expects to be in the top half of the table.
“The injuries in the last few weeks have been a difficult one for Steve Bruce to contend with, but they’ve got a real fight on.
“Fulham losing to Leeds the other night was a good one for Newcastle, but they can’t keep relying on other results.
“At some point, they’re going to have to win points themselves and that’s got to happen quickly.
“I can’t see them making a change.
“This would be the point; when you have two or three weeks to reset and get a new manager in.
“If they said they’re not going to do it, I doubt they’re going to do it at this point.
“The fans, we know what the fans think up there, we know they’re really unhappy with the situation in the club and with the manager.
“I think they’d generally support a change, but that’s not going to happen, it looks like.”